Company that made Halladay's plane 'devastated'

The Associated Press

Authorities investigate a small plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico, near Holiday, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Authorities later confirmed that former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay died in a small plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.
, WTVT-TV FOX 13 Tampa Bay, via AP

VACAVILLE, Fla. -- Executives and employees of the company behind the small sport plane that retired pitcher Roy Halladay was flying when he crashed near Florida say they are devastated to learn of his death.

California-based ICON Aviation issued a statement Tuesday saying, "We have gotten to know Roy and his family in recent months, and he was a great advocate and friend of ours."

Halladay had gotten the plane less than a month ago, and posted on social media that he had dreamed about owning an A5.

The tiny amphibious craft is made for recreational pilots.

In May, the chief designer of the plane and the company's director of engineering died in one of them, crashing during a flight at Lake Berryessa, California. Federal investigators blamed pilot error.

ICON says it will do all it can to support the investigation of Halladay's crash.